British Columbia also commonly referred to by its initials BC or B.C., (French: 
Colombie-Britannique, C.-B.) is a province located on the West Coast of Canada. British Columbia is also a component of the Pacific Northwest, along with the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington.[4][5] The province’s name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858, reflecting its origins as the British remainder of the Columbia District of the Hudson’s Bay Company. In 1871, it became the sixth province of Canada.
There are different immigration programs:
- Skilled Worker
- Health care professional category
- International Graduate
- Master and Doctoral Degree
- Entry-Level or Semi Skilled Worker
- Business Investment
1. Skilled Worker
Your occupation must be classified as Skill Level 0, A or B in the NOC list. These positions normally require post-secondary education and several years of directly related work experience. Regulated occupation requires proper licensing.
Letter of employment:
- Employer must provide you with a written offer of employment on official company letterhead. The letter must be:
- Signed and dated by a person authorized to hire employees, and
- Signed and dated by you, and stating that you accept the job offer.
In addition, the offer of employment must state:
- Job title and duties,
- Rate of pay,
- Standard hours of work,
- that the position is indeterminate and full-time (at least an average of 30 hours a week, year-round),
- any discretionary benefits in addition to those required by law (such as pension and medical plans, disability insurance, sick pay, accommodation and meal allowances, and extra paid vacations), and
- If the position is covered by a collective agreement, a reference to the agreement.
- The wage stated on your offer of employment must be at market rate and comparable to the rate paid to workers with a similar level of experience and training for equivalent jobs in B.C. We do not consider bonuses, commissions, profit-sharing distributions, tips/gratuities, overtime wages or other similar payments to be part of your wage.
- Employer also needs to be eligible for the program.
2. Health care professional category
You can apply to the PNP through the health care professional category if you are sponsored by or have a full-time job offer from a public health authority as a:
- Physician
- Specialist
- Registered nurse
- Registered psychiatric nurse
- Nurse practitioner
- An allied health professional such as a:
- Diagnostic medical sonographer
- Clinical pharmacist
- Medical laboratory technologist
- Medical radiation technologist
- Occupational therapist
- Physiotherapist
3. International Graduate
To apply to the PNP as a recent graduate of a Canadian institution, you must have a degree or diploma from a recognized post-secondary institution in Canada.
Your program must have been at least 12 months of full-time equivalent study.
A job offer is required for full time position.
4. Master and Doctoral Degree
If you have recently graduated from a B.C. post-secondary institution with a master’s or doctoral degree in the natural, applied or health sciences, you may be eligible for the BC Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Degree has to be received in the last two years.
- Graduate degree (master’s or doctorate) must be in one of the following programs of study in the natural, applied or health sciences:
- Agriculture
- Biological and biomedical sciences
- Computer and information sciences and support services
- Engineering
- Engineering technology
- Health professions and related clinical sciences
- Mathematics and statistics
- Natural resources conservation and research
- Physical sciences
5. Entry-Level or Semi Skilled Worker
If you are working in an entry-level or semi-skilled position, you may be eligible for the BC Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
You may be eligible in this category if you are currently in B.C. and:
- Work in a specified occupation in the tourism/hospitality, long-haul trucking or food processing industry, or
- Work in a Skill Level C or D occupation (as defined by the National Occupational Classification), within the Northeast Development Region of the province. Your employer must meet all employer requirements and have an established business within this region.
Eligible occupations are divided into three categories:
- Tourism and hospitality
- Long-haul trucking
- Food processing
An offer of full-time indeterminate employment from an eligible employer at a wage that will allow you to become economically established in B.C. |
6. Business Investment
You can apply to the PNP as a business immigrant in one of three categories as described below. Each category has specific requirements.
The Entrepreneur category is the best choice if:
- You would like to start or purchase and expand a business anywhere in B.C.
- You have a personal net worth of at least $800,000.
- You intend to invest at least $400,000 in (and acquire at least one-third equity ownership of) the business.
- You can commit to creating at least three new jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
- You would like to propose one key staff member on your application.
The Regional Entrepreneur category is the best choice if:
- You would like to start or purchase and expand a business outside of the Vancouver and Abbotsford metropolitan areas.
- You have a personal net worth of at least $400,000.
- You intend to invest at least $200,000 in (and acquire at least one-third equity ownership of) the business.
- You can commit to creating at least one new job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
The Strategic Projects category is the best choice if:
- Your company is interested in setting up a B.C.-based operation (such as a branch office or subsidiary) anywhere in the province.
- Your company intends to make an equity investment of at least $500,000 in the business.
- You would like to propose up to five key staff members on the application and you can commit to create at least three new jobs for each key staff member.
